Anchorage, Alaska – The shutdown of a large Alaskan oil field because of a small leak in one of the pipes is raising questions about whether there are more widespread problems in other pipelines used to transport oil throughout the U.S.
For decades, some critics charge, lax government regulation combined with corporate unwillingness to make costly repairs have allowed wear-and- tear issues to fester.
“I think all the pipelines are in trouble regardless of who operates or who owns them,” said Dan Lawn, who previously worked for the Alaska Department of Environment Conservation and is now with the Alaska Forum for Environmental Responsibility, a watchdog group.
The concerns extend beyond corrosion in the pipes, said Stan Stephens, president of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council, which was formed by federal mandate after the Exxon Valdez spill to advise the industry about potential environmental problems.
Earlier this week, BP PLC said it would shut down Prudhoe Bay – the biggest oil field in the nation – because of a small leak and severe pipeline corrosion. Energy officials have said the pipeline repairs are likely to take months, curtailing Alaskan production into next year.
